Trump slams New York data center moratorium as 'terrible decision'; Ackman warns democracy at risk in AI race with China

Published Jul 19, 12:31 AM UTC

President Donald Trump, hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, and entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul's executive order imposing a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data centers requiring 50 megawatts or more of power. Trump called the decision 'terrible' on Truth Social, warning it would drive investment and jobs to states like Texas and Florida, and risk losing AI leadership to China. Hochul defended the pause on X, arguing that communities powering AI deserve a fair share of its success. Ackman warned that China is not imposing moratoriums and that the U.S. must win the AI race to protect democracy. Pompliano called the policy 'about as dumb as you could come up with.' The moratorium makes New York the first state to enact such a statewide pause on AI-focused facilities.